The Vietnamese delegation included Chairman of the Presidential Office Le Khanh Hai, Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung, and representatives of the Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha (VBS). On the Thai side were Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Thai Ambassador to Viet Nam Urawadee Sriphiromya, among others.
Monks, nuns, Buddhists and local residents lined the pagoda grounds, waving Vietnamese and Thai flags alongside five-color Buddhist banners to welcome the royal couple.
    |
 |
|
Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana at the prayer ceremony |
The King and Queen offered candles and flowers, after which monks and Buddhists chanted prayers for their peace and well-being, and deeper progress in the Viet Nam-Thailand Comprehensive Strategic Partnership as well, timed to the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties.
The ceremony captured the socially engaged spirit of Vietnamese Buddhism and reaffirmed both countries' pledge to build a peaceful, cooperative and prosperous world.
Thailand's long history has kept Buddhism deeply embedded in its cultural and religious life. Its Buddhist traditions, handed down through generations, remain a source of national pride.
Cultural affinity and profound Buddhist exchange distinguish Viet Nam-Thailand ties, most visibly through the Annamnikaya Buddhist sect.
Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Thanh, President of the Viet Nam-Thailand Friendship Association, said the sect's roots in the northeastern Thai provinces of Nakhon Phanom, Udon Thani and Sakon Nakhon offer vivid proof of the soft power, cultural similarities and profound cultural exchanges between the two peoples.
The Thai Royal Family has patronized Annamnikaya pagodas across generations, a mark of cultural tolerance and appreciation for the Thai people of Vietnamese descent.
Annamnikaya Buddhism has become an integral part of Thailand's religious life. Its monks, nuns and followers have repeatedly returned to Viet Nam for events such as the United Nations Day of Vesak and international Buddhist conferences, and for working visits with the VBS.
Source: VNA